HALF-BACKS AT FULL THROTTLE
Today, 12.30pm
THE battle between new Giants coach Ian Watson and rookie Hull boss Brett Hodgson will be a cracker.
Watson’s reputation (right) is high, on the back of his two finals at Salford, but former Man of Steel Hodgson is credited with one of the craftiest coaching minds.
Add to this the showdown between half-backs Aidan Sezer and Josh Reynolds and this is a must-watch game.
New Hull signing Reynolds admits he is desperate to make an impact. He said: “We could have one of the best spines in the competition. Marc Sneyd has composure, Jake Connor can set the world on fire and Danny Houghton’s so influential.” Sezer is wary of Reynolds and said: “You can not stop a player of his qualities. You just minimise his involvement.”
PAUL JEWELL believes it is time for Gary Neville and other members of the Manchester United Class of ’92 to manage Salford City themselves after overseeing a rash of sackings.
Richie Wellens, who worked alongside former Bradford and Wigan boss Jewell, was the latest Salford casualty last week.
It followed the surprise departure of Graham Alexander in October despite having not lost a League Two game in the opening weeks of the season. Jewell, Swindon’s director of football, knew the Salford job was too good for Wellens to turn down when Neville and Co came calling.
Salford lost 1-0 at Exeter yesterday and Jewell said: “They are a League Two club hoping to go places and have a high profile because of the owners.
“Richie also lived in the area. But it’s also a job saddled with danger. I believe he wanted to take some staff with him. You don’t have to take the head chef and bottlewasher, but you always need a couple of people with you who think along the same lines. He ended up with just his analyst.
“I don’t have a problem with the owner or chairman voicing his opinion to the manager. It’s healthy.
“But if he thinks his opinion is the only one that matters and he believes he knows more than the manager... well maybe he should do what Ron Noades did at Brentford and have a go as manager himself.”